Sitthipong Nalinanon

Tuna pepsin: characteristics and its use for collagen extraction from the skin of threadfin bream (Nemipterus spp.).

Pepsin from the stomach of albacore tuna, skipjack tuna, and tongol tuna was characterized. Pepsin from all tuna species showed maximal activity at pH 2.0 and 50 degrees C when hemoglobin was used as a substrate. Among the stomach extract of all species tested, that of albacore tuna showed the highest activity (40.55 units/g tissue) (P < 0.05). Substrate-Native-PAGE revealed that pepsin from albacore tuna and tongol tuna consisted of 2 isoforms, whereas pepsin from skipjack tuna had only 1 form. The activity was completely inhibited by pepstatin A, while EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), SBTI (soybean trypsin inhibitor), and E-64 (1-(L-trans-epoxysuccinyl-leucylamino)-4-guanidinobutane) exhibited negligible effect. The activity was strongly inhibited by SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) (0.05% to 0.1%, w/v). Cysteine (5 to 50 mM) also showed an inhibitory effect in a concentration dependent manner. ATP, molybdate, NaCl, MgCl(2), and CaCl(2) had no impact on the activity. When tuna pepsin (10 units/g defatted skin) was used for collagen extraction from the skin of threadfin bream for 12 h, the yield of collagen increased by 1.84- to 2.32-fold and albacore pepsin showed the comparable extraction efficacy to porcine pepsin. The yield generally increased with increasing extraction time (P < 0.05). All collagen obtained with the aid of tuna pepsin showed similar protein patterns compared with those found in acid-solubilized collagen. Nevertheless, pepsin from skipjack tuna caused the degradation of alpha and beta components. All collagens were classified as type I with large portion of beta-chain. However, proteins with molecular weight (MW) greater than 200 kDa were abundant in acid-solubilized collagen.

Collagens from the skin of arabesque greenling (Pleurogrammus azonus) solubilized with the aid of acetic acid and pepsin from albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) stomach.

BACKGROUND Due to the low extraction efficiency of collagen from fish skin by the typical acid solubilization process, pepsin has been widely used to aid further extraction of collagen from the residue. The aim of this study was to characterize collagen from the skin of arabesque greenling extracted with the aid of albacore tuna pepsin, in comparison with collagen obtained from the acid solubilization process. RESULTS Acid-solubilized collagen (ASC) from the skin of arabesque greenling was extracted with acetic acid. Pepsin-solubilized collagen (PSC) was further extracted from the skin residue with the aid of pepsin from albacore tuna. The yields of ASC and PSC were 303 and 140 g kg(-1) (dry weight), respectively. Both collagens contained alpha- and beta-chains as their major components and were characterized as type I collagen. Both collagens contained glycine as a major amino acid and had imino acid content of 157-159 residues per 1000 residues. The degradation induced by lysyl endopeptidase and V8-protease was more pronounced in PSC compared with ASC. Maximal transition temperatures of both collagens were in the range of 15.4-15.7 degrees C. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed some differences in molecular order between ASC and PSC. Nevertheless, the triple-helical structure of PSC was still predominant. Based on zeta-potential, pI of ASC and PSC was estimated to be 6.31 and 6.38, respectively. CONCLUSION Isolation of collagens from the skin of arabesque greenling could be achieved by acid or albacore tuna pepsin solubilization. However, there was a slight difference in properties between ASC and PSC.

Changes in lipids and fishy odour development in skin from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored in ice

Changes in lipids, lipoxygenase activity and fishy odour development in the skin of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during iced storage of 18 days were monitored. Triacylglycerol content of skin decreased with coincidental increases in free fatty acid, monoacylglycerol, diacylglycerol and phospholipid contents during storage (p<0.05). During iced storage, peroxide value increased at day 9 and subsequently decreased up to 18 days (p<0.05). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values and lipoxygenase activity increased throughout 18 days of iced storage (p<0.05). With increasing storage time, a progressive formation of hydroperoxide was found as evidenced by the increase in amplitude of peak at 3600-3200 cm(-1) in Fourier transform infrared spectra. Those changes indicated that lipid oxidation took place during iced storage. The increase in fishy odour of skin was observed as the storage time increased. The development of fishy odour in Nile tilapia skin during iced storage was mostly governed by lipid oxidation via autoxidation or induced by lipoxygenase. Thus, the extended storage time of whole fish resulted in the pronounced changes in lipids and the increased fishy odour in the skin.

Characteristics of Pepsin-Solubilised Collagen from the Skin of Splendid Squid (Loligo formosana)

Pepsin-solubilised collagen from the skin of splendid squid (SC) was isolated, partially purified by salt precipitation and dialysis prior to characterisation. The yield of SC was 75.3% (dry weight basis). SC with high purity was obtained as shown by the distinct UV absorption peak at 232 nm and high hydroxyproline content. Total sugar content of SC was 4.70% (dry weight basis), which was higher than that of collagen from calf skin (CC) (1.45% dry weight basis) (). Based on SDS-PAGE and elution profile, SC might contain the mixed types of collagen (type SQ-I and type SQ-II), in which α- and β-chains were the major components. SC was rich in glycine and had high content of imino acids (189 residues/1000 residues). The degradation induced by chymotrypsin and lysyl endopeptidase was more pronounced in CC, compared with SC. The maximum transition temperature () of SC was 34.1°C, which was about 7°C lower than that of CC. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed that the triple-helical structure of SC was predominant with the copresence of carbohydrate moieties. Therefore, the skin of splendid squid, a byproduct from squid processing, can be an alternative source for collagen production.

Mackerel Trypsin Purified from Defatted Viscera by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Viscera of mackerel (Scomber sp.) were defatted by supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO2) treatment. Trypsin (SC-T) was then extracted from the defatted powder and purified by a series of chromatographies including Sephacryl S-200 and Sephadex G-50. The purified SC-T was nearly homogeneous on SDS-PAGE, and its molecular weight was estimated as approximately 24,000 Da. N-terminal twenty amino acids sequence of SC-T was IVGGYECTAHSQPHQVSLNS. The specific trypsin inhibitors, soybean trypsin inhibitor and TLCK, strongly inhibited the activities of SC-T. The pH and temperature optimums of SC-T were at around pH 8.0 and 60°C, respectively, using N α-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester as a substrate. The SC-T was unstable below pH 5.0 and above 40°C, and it was stabilized by calcium ion. These enzymatic characteristics of SC-T were the same as those of other fish trypsins, especially spotted mackerel (S. borealis) trypsin, purified from viscera defatted by acetone. Therefore, we concluded that the SCO2 defatting process is useful as a substitute for organic solvent defatting process.

Simple Preparation of Pacific Cod Trypsin for Enzymatic Peptide Synthesis

Trypsin from the pyloric caeca of Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) was easily prepared by affinity chromatography on Benzamidine Sepharose 6B and gel filtration on Superdex 75. Pacific cod trypsin was composed of three isozymes, and their molecular masses were estimated 23,756.34 Da, 23,939.62 Da, and 24,114.81 Da by desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI/TOF-MS) and their isoelectric points (pIs) were approximately 5.1, 6.0, and 6.2, respectively. The isolated Pacific cod trypsin showed high similarity to other frigid-zone fish trypsins. The kinetic behavior of tryptic hydrolysis toward N-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (TAME), N-benzoyl-L-arginine p-nitroanilide hydrochloride (BAPA), and p-amidinophenyl ester were also analyzed. In addition, the cod trypsin-catalyzed dipeptide synthesis was investigated using twelve series of “inverse subdtrates” that is p- and m-isomer of amidinophenyl, guanidinophenyl, (amidinomethyl)phenyl, (guanidinomethyl)phenyl, and four position isomers of guanidinonaphtyl esters derived from N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino acid as acyl donor components. They were found to couple with an acyl acceptor such as L-alanine p-nitroanilide to produce dipeptide in the presence of the trypsin. All inverse substrates tested in this study undergo less enantioselective coupling reaction. The p-guanidinophenyl ester was most practical substrate in twelve series tested. The enzymatic hydrolysis of the resulting products was negligible.

Physicochemical Characteristics of Glucosamine from Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Shell Prepared by Acid Hydrolysis

A series of 20 new biologically active derivatives of 2-{4, 5-(substituted diphenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ylthio}acetyl chloride has been synthesized, with the aim to investigate antimicrobial, free radical scavenging activity. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. The final compounds were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 3160, Bacillus subtilis MTCC 441; Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli MTCC 443, and, for antifungal activity, against Candida albicans MTCC 227 and Aspergillus niger MTCC 281, taking ciprofloxacin as antibacterial and fluconazole as antifungal standard drugs. Compound 7a 6 was found to be the most effective antibacterial (MIC = 3.12 µg/ml), and compounds 7a 2 and 7d 1 (MIC = 3.12 and 6.25 µg/ml) had the most effective antifungal effects on the selected strains, as compared to the standard drugs. The results of antioxidant studies revealed that compound 7b 1 was found to be most active antioxidant, with 40.4±0.687 µg/ml, and compounds 7b 3 , 7d 7 , and 7d 4 also showed promising free radical scavenging activity, as compared with the standard drug ascorbic acid.